James Vince will be recalled to the England team for this winter's Ashes series and Mark Wood will be ruled out with an ankle injury when the selectors announce the squad on Wednesday at 10am.Vince replaces Tom Westley who has been dropped after five Tests this summer.Wood, meanwhile, has been plagued by a chronic ankle injury all summer that restricted him to two Tests against South Africa. He is currently playing for Durham in the final Championship match of the season in a bid to prove to the selectors his fitness, but they have decided they cannot risk taking a half-fit fast bowler on the trip.

Somerset’s Craig Overton has been called up instead and will be one of three uncapped players in the squad with leg spinner Mason Crane included and Surrey’s Ben Foakes the reserve wicketkeeper.Gary Ballance has also been picked for the tour in a 16-man squad. Ballance, Vince and Dawid Malan will fight it out for two places in the three warm-up matches before the first Ashes Test in Brisbane on November 23.Vince will be pencilled in to bat at three in place of Westley and it will be a choice between Ballance or Malan at five.Wood’s absence is a big blow for England with his pace through the air believed to have been key to their bowling attack. He joins Toby Roland-Jones on the injured list after the Middlesex paceman broke down with a stress fracture in his back last week.

Jake Ball of Nottinghamshire has taken his place with Steven Finn likely to be named as a reserve in the Lions squad which will be announced on Monday.

Like England Australia have a contracted list that you have to make each year.CA offered the top few a guaranteed 3 yr contract and more money than everyone else.I know they can afford to say no with their IPL money but it was more about Sheffield Shield players and rookies under that.CA seemed to think Test cricketers sprung fully formed and didn't need to be supported from 17 onwards.The biggest threat to Aust cricket is AFL hoovering up all the talented kids in their annual player draft.

I'd be astonished if CA makes any demands or requests regarding the selection of the England squad.

The Chairman of CA is now a former Rio Tinto managing director.An anti union cunt who drove this recent pay dispute trying to sideline the players union and appeal to the greed of the top players like Smith, Warner & Starc.Got a nasty shock when they stuck by their mates and future players rather than just looking out for number 1

VHWhy would Australia do anything of the sort? Don't let your paranoia get the better of you.The selection of Stokes is up to England.Australia suspended Warner because they thought his behaviour deserved it.They have a history of that. Steve O'Keefe was also suspended recently for inappropriate behaviour..... Id still like to know what he actually said to a female cricketer at a function